'Disease spreading female mosquitoes endangered'

In an unconventional approach to malaria, scientists genetically engineer mosquitoes to reproduce only male offsprings

Scientists spliced the X chromosomes so that only Y chromosomes are inherited

Singapore: In a novel approach to find a cure against malaria, scientist have genetically engineered a generation of mosquitoes which are 95 percent male, as opposed to 50 percent in normal populations. Modified male mosquitoes produces only male heirs eventually endangering disease causing ones.

Scientists used the sex selection technique to damage the X chromosome and hence only the Y chromosome was passed on to the offspring.

This method of only one sperm reduces the number of females, leading to a dramatic reduction in the population and eventual decimation. This reduced the risk to humans as the malarial parasite is transmitted through the blood-sucking female mosquitoes.

"Malaria is debilitating, often fatal and newer approaches are to be employed to tackle it," said the study leader Ms Andrea Crisanti, a professor at Imperial College London.

Ms Crisanti added that through the innovative approach we have registered our first success in eliminating female mosquitoes which could be a new means to eliminate the disease."